United Nations/Turkey/European Space Agency

Workshop on
“Space Technology Applications for Socio-Economic Benefits”
14-17 September 2010

CubeSats in Education and

Society

[Link]. Alim Rüstem Aslan

Head, Department of Space Engineering
Istanbul Technical University
Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics
34469, Maslak, İstanbul
aslanr@[Link]
 Contents
• Space Research and Technology
• CubeSat Project
• ITUpSAT1
• Benefits in education and society
• Conclusions
 Space research
There is less resources available as world
population increases. Space research
contributes greatly
•To the efficient utilization of resources
•To the development of new resources
 Space Technologies
In the service of society:
• Telecommunications,
• Audio and video broadcasting, TV,
• Distance education and health services,
• Environmental data gathering,
• Search and Rescue,
• Navigation,
• Weather forecast,
• Earth observations, sea and oceans,
• Cartography, surface observations,
• Agriculture, forest, water resources
surveillance/management
• Security
• ......
 Space Technology
• Contribute significantly to wealth creation and
quality of life, both directly and in terms of
technology spin-off to other sectors
 International Power
• Become an important power in space
technologies and have major contribution to
the peacefull utilization of Space
• Requirements:
– R&D and test infrastructure
– Qualified human resources
 CubeSat Project*
• The CubeSat Project was developed by California Polytechnic
State University, San Luis Obispo and Stanford University's
Space Systems Development Lab. The CubeSat program
creates launch opportunities for universities previously unable
to access space.
With over 60 universities and high school participating in the
CubeSat program, the educational benefits are tremendous.
Students, through hands on work, will develop the necessary
skills and experience needed to succeed in the aerospace
industry. The CubeSat program also benefits private firms and
government by providing a low-cost way of flying payloads in
space, all while creating important educational opportunities
for future leaders of industry.
The CubeSat program strives to provide practical, reliable, and
cost-effective launch opportunities for small satellites and
their payloads.
*[Link]
 Disruptive Technology
• CubeSats just a short while ago considered
only for educational purposes are now on the
way to become a disruptive technology
revolutionizing the space activities.
• Strong support for CubeSat Projects by NSF in
USA and FP, ESA in Europe (QB50)
• All Major Aerospace companies now have
involved in CubeSat projects
ITUpSAT1
 ITUpSAT1
• ITUpSAT1 (Istanbul Technical University
PicoSATellite) is the first pico-satellite designed,
manufactured and tested in Turkey.
• The initial aim of the satellite was to give
students experience over the whole lifecycle of a
space mission, beginning from preliminary design
to operations.
• Launched and placed in orbit on September 23rd
, 2009.
• First Turkish made satellite, a cubesat, ITUpSAT1
• Same for switzerland, SwissCube
 ITUpSAT1

Student designed spacecraft from ITU.

Comply with CubeSat standart

Project consideration and proposal 2005

Started 2006 (ITU and TUBITAK support)

Launch September 23, 2009

Single Satellite itself costs about $0.2 million

Infrastructure and support: $1 million

Main objective: Low resolution (640x480 pixels)
imaging.

Secondary objectives: Passive magnetic stabilization
and inertial data capturing.

Istanbul Technical University - Faculty of Aeronautics and Astronautics

[Link]
 Satellite Clasification(Mass)
• Large satellites: > 1 ton (Turksat 3A)
• Medium size: 500 kg – 1 ton
• Small satellites: 100kg - 500kg (Göktürk II)
• Micro satellites : 10kg – 100 kg (UoSAT-1)
• Nano satellites : 1kg – 10 kg (Delfi C3)
• Pico satellites : 0.1kg - 1kg (İTÜpSAT1)
• Femto satellites : < 0.1 kg
Launch, Beacon
SATELLITE IN A
BOX
 Benefits-Education
• Applied education: plan, design, produce, test,
integrate, launch, observe a spacequalified actual
satellite during education
• Establish design, manufacturing and testing
infrasturcture
• Space project: higly motivated students, individuals
• Multidisciplinary research teams at universities
• Raise qualified and experienced Space Engineers for
aerospace industry
• Increase national capability in satellite technologies
Clean Room – Integration and Test
TVAC
Testing and Production Infrastructure
in ITU
 Benefits
• Interdisplinary research , between people,
groups, companies, departments, faculties...
never get together before
• Low cost technology test bed
• High technology at very low cost in the service of
society
• Very high impact on society and the news, TVs,
web sites
• Create space awareness among people
• Interaction with elemantary and high schools
 Effects on Society
• First satellites of countries, Turkey, Swiss,..
• High spirits in society
• Social networking sites: FACEBOOK
• Radio amatuers track and record beacon
signals
• TAMSAT, Turkish Amateur Satellite
Technologies Organization (AMSAT-TR).
Design contest for CubeSat Beacon
 Project student comment
• ITUpSAT1 was the only project who gave me
pratical experience both in undergraduate and
graduate level. Turkey has a very young and
inexperienced space industry. This project has
facilitated the transition to the practical life and
has increased my intellectual level. Now I have
great confidence in what I do. Besides, when
considering the very high butgets involved in the
space research and industry, the level of
achievemnets both people and knowledgewise
with such a modest budget and relatively little
time is very gainly.
 Project student comment
• Before I began to work in ITUpSAT1 project I
was just an ordinary electronics engineer. As I
worked in this project I have realized what we
can do as an individual and society. It was a
small but important step and I was part of it.
 Outcomes
• Accounting for space debris in project
planning, compliance with UN regulations
• A new job sector: entrepreneurship, student
level, Pumpkin, ISIS, Clyde Space...
• Underdeveloped, developing, developed,
every nation wants to built a satellite:
CubeSat,
• To reach space is a realm of possibility for
everyone...
 Conclusions
• Continous financial support for sustainable space
education with hands on experience,

• Keep the interest of students alive

• Improve greatly infrastructure and HR

• Involve, educate and train SMEs in space technologies

and spacequalified production

• International collaborations